Laura Shea
My work explores complex polyhedral structures and polygon formations stitched with beads and thread. My repertoire includes classic geometric forms, whole and partial frame polyhedra, regular tilings, and tessellations. I connect the component forms at contiguous polygonal faces and edges to create chains, sculptural polyhedra and tilings. The open networks of tilings and frame polyhedra provide a magical space for light to play with crystal and glass beads scattering refracted light and creating intriguing substantial and insubstantial patterns.
Motif of hexagons based on a popular Islamic screen pattern. Interconnecting bead dodecahedra create six connected hexagons. After discovering that eight dodecahedra will form a diamond or equilateral rhombus (in the plane), I experimented with creating other polygons. I found that I could form a square, a hexagon, and a six-pointed star. Because of the nature of angles of the pentagonal faces of the dodecahedron there are slightly different formulas for making polygons. I have never seen this hexagonal combination of dodecahedra anywhere before.
Pendant of a diamond shape made of eight dodecahedra connected to a square made of twelve dodecahedra. The dodecahedra are equilateral with one bead per edge. After discovering that eight dodecahedra will form a diamond or equilateral rhombus (in the plane), I experimented with creating other polygons. I discovered that I could form a square, a hexagon, and a six-pointed star. Because of the nature of the angles of the pentagonal faces of the dodecahedron there are slightly different formulas for making polygons. I have never seen this square combination of dodecahedra anywhere before.